Identifier: incidentsoftrave11step (find matches)
Title: Incidents of travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan
Year: 1858 (1850s)
Authors: Stephens, John L, 1805-1852
Subjects: Indians of Central America Indians of Mexico Mayas
Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers
Contributing Library: Brigham Young University-Idaho, David O. McKay Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University-Idaho

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ler, which they called kabtum, bra-zo de piedra, or arm of stone, used, as they said, formashing the corn. The different names they as-signed in different places to the same thing, and thedifferent uses ascribed to it, show, with many otherfacts, the utter absence of all traditionary knowl-edge among the Indians ; and this is perhaps thegreatest difficulty we have to encounter in ascribingto their ancestors the building of these cities. The last day we returned from the ruins earlierthan usual, and stopped at the campo santo. Infront stood a noble seybo tree. I had been anxiousto learn something of the growth of this tree, buthad never had an opportunity of doing it before.The cura told me that it was then twenty-threeyears old. There could be no doubt or mistake onthis point. Its age was as well known as nis own,or that of any other person in the village. Thefollowing woodcut represents this tree. The trunkat the distance of five feet from the ground measured 286 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
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Seybo Tree. 17^ feet in circumference, and its great branches af-forded on all sides a magnificent shade. We hadfound trees like it growing on the tops of the ruinedstructures at Copan and Palenque, and many hadfor that reason ascribed to the buildings a very greatantiquity. This tree completely removed all doubtswhich I might have entertained, and confirmed mein the opinion I had before expressed, that no cor-rect judgment could be formed of the antiquity offhese buildings from the size of the trees growing THE CAMPO SANTO. 287 upon them. Remarkable as I considered this treeat that time, I afterward saw larger ones, in morefavourable situations, not so old. The campo santo was enclosed by a high stonewall. The interior had some degree of plan andarrangement, and in some places were tombs, builtabove ground, belonging to families in the village,hung with withered wreaths and votive offerings.The population tributary to it was about five thou-sand ; it had been opened but five years, a

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